Natacha Cullinan

The media is onto it, forward-thinking businesses have already started to buy into it, and organisations up and down the country are singing their praises… But just why are Erasmus students and Global Graduates such a good investment for companies across industries?

If you’re heading out to Germany for your year away, whether you’re Erasmus studying, working a cool internship or going down a volunteering route, you should look into practicing skills, passions and random activities in your spare time. Why? Because you’ll have way more spare time now then you will come 4th year, or, shudder, upon graduating when CVs, interviews and grown-up jobs will take over your life. Here’s our definitive list of the cool and quirky, from hip Berlin to dreamy Dortmund, happening Frankfurt and more...

Flying halfway across the world to beaches, the outback and koalas is a dream for many. The best time to make the most of Down Undah is before you set off for uni or even during your year abroad, as you’ll get the chance to see something totally new and fresh, work or study, without having to worry about language requirements - i.e. an opportunity open to all! From what costs are involved, where you could go, where to study or work, as well as getting your head round paperwork, it’s all in here!

Although preparing your year abroad back home may seem like a lot of faff, paperwork and what not, but the prospect of going to France and dealing with all of that, all over again and in - aaargh - French can leave you with a bit of a headache. Filling out forms, no speaking the bureaucratic lingo and no knowledge of protocol. This is where this article comes in: what to watch out for, how to get the most out of your money and what you can sign up to. Read on to find out more:

With tuition fees on the rise, many students are looking abroad for their higher education. Whether you are studying languages or fancy studying your chosen course in English abroad, there are many options available to school leavers across the globe. Financial help, forums, dedicated websites and more are just a few steps away so read on to find out more...

It would be a crime not to make the most of Italian cooking, eating, dancing, trampolining, speaking, drinking etc on your year abroad here. After all, the food is second to none, the wine doesn’t get tiresome and you’re noticing it doesn’t get much better than this: la vita è davvero bella. Oh yes, yes it is. You’re through a few months of it now and family and friends are expecting lots from you: an academic’s knowledge of Michelangelo, the ability to make perfect hand-made ravioli, distinguish your espresso from your americano, get the froth right on the cappuccino AND speak the local dialect.

If you choose to study in an English-speaking country, you might turn your attention to the States and Canada. With top universities and colleges, high-ranking departments and a reputation for first-class lectures, it’s easy to see why. Inevitably, rising tuition fees and living costs in the UK have boosted the trend to go to North America for many students - either for full-time study or a year abroad. Although studying across the pond is not exactly chump change, with many colleges in the US charging upwards of $30,000 in private institutions and Canada marginally cheaper at $25,000 for international students, it is still an appealing option for many. Aside from the fact financial help is available through grants and bursaries and the bureaucratic paperwork studying abroad may entail, over 9,000 UK students decided to make the switch. The big question is: where should you study, Columbia, UCLA and Harvard or McGill, British Columbia or Trent? Read on to find out what are the pros and cons to each country and what they could offer you.

If you’re planning on moving to Spain for your year or semester abroad, you will be thinking of accommodation, bureaucracy, bank accounts and much more. It might be wise to read our Culture Shock section for more tips about Spanish working hours, politeness and more before you set sail to the Iberian Peninsula. Read on to find out what you should do when you arrive, how to sort out lodgings and what to look out for regarding money issues and more...

It’s coming to that time of year again...No, not Christmas, nor the end of exams, but rather a fun weekend involving your year abroad, your best mate/partner in crime/parents coming to visit and you’re not only looking forward to pretending to be a tourist in your new city (ahem, you’re now officially a local of course) but you’re also planning on doing loads of typical things with them. Going to cute little cafés, munching on local cuisine, visiting the [insert name of famous museum] together. Just one little hitch in the plan - they virtually do not speak any foreign tongue; yes and no are trying at the best of times, their pronunciation is totally off-key and regardless of how many times you have tried to teach them basic words, they can’t seem to muster them up on command. What to do? The weekend can’t just be you translating all the time, can it? That’s where these simple steps and hints come in...

If you plan on taking a year abroad and are not studying languages as part of your degree, the prospect of flying off somewhere and getting stuck into a particular education system, as well as having all your classes taught in a foreign language, might be quite scary for quite a few of you. With many UK universities and European institutions offering courses taught in English, taking a year abroad as a non-linguist might not prove to be so scary after all! Here’s our list of the top universities, across Europe, offering a wide range of courses - from Engineering to Theology, to Law and Mathematics, you’re bound to find something to suit you!